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PACIFIC LIFE OPEN - USA
$5,689,000.00 MARCH 10 - MARCH 23, 2008
Indian Wells, California
Purse: Men, $3.7
million (Masters Series),
Women, $2.1 million (Tier I)
2008 Draws - PDF Format
www.pacificlifeopen.com.
Women's Main
Women's
Doubles
Women's
Qualifying
Men's
Main
Men's Doubles
Men's
Qualifying
2008 ATP-WTA Tour
Pacific Life Open - At The
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Tournament Coverage - Day
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Story by Matt
Osias
Staff Writer
SERBIAN'S DOMINATE PAC LIFE
TOURNAMENT
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Novak Djokovic - SRB |
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Photo
By Adam Davis |
World No. 3
Novak Djokovic interrupted the Cinderella story that was
unseeded Mardy Fish, outlasting the American in three sets
6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
Djokovic looked as if he would claim an easy victory after
winning the first set, followed by getting the first break
at 4-2 in the second. However, Fish rallied to claim five of
the next six games, forcing a decisive third set. Djokovic
uncharacteristically showed his frustration during Fish's
comeback, slamming his racket to the court on multiple
occasions.
The difference in the match came in the third set with Fish
clutching a triple break point, however, Djokovic crushed
three straight aces, which led to him holding serve. In the
next game, Djokovic took the lead for good, scorching a
backhand winner on a double break point.
"That was a crucial moment and it was the turning point in
the whole match," Djokovic said. "If I didn't come up with
the three aces, it could go either way."
The win even exceeded Djokovic's 2008 expectations for
himself, only three months in.
"It's been a dream start, of course," Djokovic said. "Before
I started playing this season, I said that my two goals is
to be consistent with the results, I reach the Masters and
hopefully win one Grand Slam. I did all that in very, very
small amount of time. But again, I don't want to stop here,
even though I've been playing fantastic...I'll try to keep
going in Miami, and I'm the defending champion there. But
coming up from Indian Wells as tournament winner, it's much
easier to play."
For Fish, although the dream tournament came to a halt a few
games shy of his first Master's title, the 26-year-old, who
climbed better than 40 spots in the rankings, will take a
ton of confidence in his desert performance.
"It would be really nice to take this momentum and take this
confidence into next week, because next week is just as big
of a week for me," Fish said. "I didn't play last year. I
think I put myself in a nice position now around 40 in the
world with not a match to defend until August 19th, which I
checked."
Fish was hoping to become the first American to win at
Indian Wells since Andre Agassi defeated Pete Sampras in the
2001 final.
No. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic grabbed her first WTA title of the
2008 season, beating Russian No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova in
straight sets 6-4, 6-3 Sunday at the Pacific Life Open.
After needing just one break to claim the first set,
Ivanovic rallied to win the last four games of the second
set en route to her sixth career title.
"It's a great victory for me," Ivanovic said. "When I
managed to break her on 4-all it gave me confidence, and
went strong from that point on. That game I stepped up a
little bit more, and I realized that's what I got to do."
Kuznetsova admittedly was not all smiles about her finals
performance, though she credited Ivanovic for her solid
play.
"She played incredibly well in the first set and on,"
Kuznetsova said. "Every important point her winners were on
the line, but I could have played better."
Ivanovic hit an impressive 30 winners, compared to just 19
errors.
"I was a little bit nervous coming into this tournament,"
Ivanovic said. "It's such a strong field and still I'm the
No. 1 seed. Obviously more pressure comes into the play. The
first few matches I was more nervous, but then I just
started to focus on each match and not even think about whom
I play, just to do what I have been doing in practice.
Matt Osias can be reached at
mosias@californiatennis.com
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Guest Writer |
OUR FEARS AND WORRIES
CAN DISTORT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION
By: Stanley Popovich
At times, our worries and anxieties can overwhelm us. In
addition, our worries can distort our perception of what is
reality and what is not. As a result, this may interfere with
your game. Here is a brief list of techniques that a sports
athlete can use to help gain a better perspective on things
during their anxious moments. Click
here for full article. |
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